Fire ruled an accident

Investigators have ruled a house fire last week in Constantine was started by accident.

The April 11 blaze at 570 S. Washington St. in Constantine has been ruled accidental, as its source was found to be an 11-year-old occupant playing with a lighter.

The fire began around 7 p.m. in a first-floor bedroom and quickly spread to an upper- level apartment. That apartment was a complete loss, displacing four people. The family also lost a cat in the fire.